Vinyl
When Kristin and I first got married we had a huge record player thing. It was like a piece of furniture that opened up and inside was a record player and some speakers. It was pretty awesome. Then we moved and had no place for it. I think we gave it to Kyle or something. Then we got rid of a bunch of records because we had no need for them. We did hang on to a couple just to have though.
Well this Christmas, Kristin got me this amazing record player that I can hook to my computer and not only play records but I can also import them into my iTunes. Total geeky amazing, I know. She also got me a Radiohead’s “In Rainbows” and Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” to go with it. Yep, awesome.
So now I’ve decided that 2011 will be the year of vinyl. I’ll still get ‘regular’ music on iTunes but those special records that I need to have forever will be on vinyl. I’m pretty excited to start tracking some of these down.
So let’s hear it. What should be some of my first purchases? Anything that I need to have on vinyl?
The Reversal
So check this out. A couple months ago I met a guy named Milam and he said he had an idea. The idea is to create a community online for artists to connect with other artists and experience real connection. An online Bible Study of sorts. Where artists can be real with each other and be honest about the struggles of being on the road, away from their families, ect. Instantly I decided I was in. I love the idea of someone supporting those that are traveling the country and also supporting the families that are staying home supporting them. Brilliant.
So here’s the first stage of TheReversal.org with lots to come in 2011. Check it out.
Behold The Lamb Of God
Last night, for the sixth consecutive year, Kristin and I had the opportunity to go see Andrew Peterson’s “Behold The Lamb Of God” show at the Ryman in Downtown Nashville. Obviously it’s become a yearly tradition for us and every year I am completely taken back by how amazing of a songwriter he is. I can honestly say I don’t think there are many better writers out there making music today. Anyway, I know I’ve blogged about it before, but I can’t say enough good things about this show. It’s one of the dates with Kristin I look most forward to every year.
There were a couple new faces this year involved in the tour, but for the most part it was the same folks that it is every year. I could give some eloquent ‘review’ of the show, but I don’t think it would do it justice. If the tour ever comes even remotely close to where you are, it’d be in your best interest to go. And continue to go year after year.
Here’s a song that Andrew played last night during the first half of the show that left every married couple in the room in a pile of mush.
Titans Game
It has been a painfully busy time in our lives. I literally have no idea how we manage to make it through each day getting the things done that we do. Because of that we’ve really tried to make it a focus to do things with the family or as a family as much as we can in the down time. It’s tough but we’ve been really trying to make that work.
Blue has been really getting into football these past few weeks. Wanting the cards, studying the stats, tackling his brothers… all that. On Sundays he’s reminding me to make sure my Fantasy Team is all set and asking me who I’m playing and if I’m winning. Yep. He’s a real live eight year old boy. So a week or so ago, I thought it would be awesome to take him to a game so he could actually see how big something like that really is, but with only a couple games left and prices through the roof, I didn’t really see that happening. Anyway, it’s funny how things happen because late Wednesday night I got a text from a friend of mine asking if I wanted two tickets to the game. Me being the amazing sports person I am, had no idea what game he was talking about, but said sure.
So last night we bundled up and Blue was able to experience his first real live NFL game. It was only my second so that was pretty cool too. I think my feet are still frozen, but it was worth it for sure. Blue kept saying that he felt like he was in a video game because he’s only ever seen those players on video games or TV. Family memories are cool. Thanks Scott.
Gowalla Over Foursquare
So here’s the deal. I’m not an expert, and I have openly expressed my thoughts on those that think they are experts here on the interweb, but I’ve had a ton of people has me, ‘Why Gowalla over Foursquare or Facebook Places’, so I thought I’d answer here. Quite simply. I like it better. I like that I can contact the CEO and several employees in the company and work with them to do things. I like that aesthetically they don’t look like they were made on a 2004 Windows machine. I like that they have strict “rules” as to what their product will look like. And I like that they stepped up to Foursquare and used their own API to incorporate it into their app.
Sure, they aren’t the biggest, but I love how they work and I love that they are making strides to become the best by doing things well. They don’t just want to crash into something and try to be the biggest. They want to be best before they are the biggest. And I think they are on their way.
So, while I know that Foursquare and Facebook Places might be the most widely used, I’m sticking to Gowalla and making it my goal to convince you all to go that way too. They deserve it. Not to mention they’ve got some cool things planned in the future… I’ve heard.
Which are you using?
